Independence Day is soon going to be celebrated, with streets and houses being decorated with colourful lights and flags.

Every year Pakistanis observe this day with enthusiasm, but after the Independence Day celebrations of August 14 no one seems to care for the flags that were so proudly flying from every house and pole. They are then found lying on the ground. I have even seen some people and children carelessly stepping on them. This is a great insult of our national flag, which is a symbol of our nation.

I am always shocked to see flags lying on the ground, floating in rain water and torn flags hanging everywhere. If we can’t care for them, why do we buy them? Do people realise that our flag is our identity and pride, and our attitude towards it shows our regard (disregard in this case) for our country?

The show of patriotism on Independence Day by waving and flying the green and white Pakistani flag soon turns into a horrible display of disrespect when the same flags are discarded and left to turn into trash

In some cases, strings of small paper flags of the same design but different colours can be seen being sold in shops. Changing the colours means changing the meaning and significance of our national flag and this is wrong.

This can be because many people also don’t know the meaning and significance of the colours and design of our flag. Our flag is green with a white crescent moon and five-rayed star at its centre, and a vertical white stripe at the hoisting side.

The green colour represents Islam and the Muslim majority in Pakistan and the white stripe represents the minorities. In the centre, the crescent and star symbolises progress and light respectively.

White and green are our identity, the symbol of peace and freedom, and changing its colour is similar to changing our individuality.

The Pakistani flag with a crescent and star is sometimes made with unwanted additions in it, such as the Quaid’s portrait, face of political leaders, etc. Slogans, greetings or other words and phrases are written on it. The worst is adding up of pictures of cartoon characters, which is disrespecting our flag.

Adding to it, sometime children and even elders forget to take care of the national flags after 14th August. These flags are smudged with dirt, lying on a busy roadside, they become discoloured and torn with time and left to become an eyesore.

As only a few days are left in our Independence Day, it is a good time to review how we should show proper respect for our flag. We must make our friends and family aware about the following ways that will ensure that we don’t disrespect the flags we have so lovingly hung to show our love for our country.

• When carrying our flag, always keep it in a vertical position.

• Our flag is never to be used as cloth, a table covering, over a speaker’s platform, or for any decoration in general.

• Our flag should not be used for advertising purposes. Don’t embroider, print on, or cover it with designs, especially if designed for temporary use and then discarded.

• Our flag should not be used for a costume or uniform. You can use a flag patch on the uniform of our military, police, firemen and members of patriotic organisations.

• The design of our flag should never be changed. We shouldn’t put logos, letters, pictures, words, drawings, etc. on it.

• Our flag should never be used to carry, hold or deliver anything.

• Our flag should never touch the ground or any other object lying on ground. Our flag should be cleaned and repaired as necessary.

• Our flag, when it is worn, should be properly disposed. This is through burying in a dignified manner.

Revive patriotism and respect the flag! Long live Pakistan!

Published in Dawn, Young World, August 11th, 2018